McGregor W. Scott

McGregor "Greg" William Scott (born 1962) is an American lawyer who currently serves as the United States Attorney for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. He was most recently sworn in as a court-appointed U.S. Attorney on December 29, 2017, after previously serving in the position from 2003 to 2009 during the administration of George W. Bush. In November 2017, he was appointed by President Donald Trump to a four-year term as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California. He was confirmed by a voice vote of the United States Senate on March 7, 2018.[4] Prior to assuming his current role, Scott was a partner in the Sacramento office of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, where his practice focused on white collar criminal defense and corporate investigations. In 2008, he retired from the United States Army Reserve as a lieutenant colonel after 23 years of service.[5]

McGregor W. Scott
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California
Assumed office
December 29, 2017
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byPhillip Talbert
In office
2003–2009
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byPaul L. Seave[1]
Succeeded byBenjamin B. Wagner[2]
District Attorney of Shasta County
In office
1997–2003
Preceded byDennis J. Sheehy[3]
Succeeded byGerald C. Benito
Personal details
Born1962 (age 57–58)
Mountain View, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Jennifer
Children3
EducationSanta Clara University, (B.A.)
University of California, Hastings College of the Law, (J.D.)
Nickname(s)Greg

Education and early career

He received his Bachelor of Arts from Santa Clara University and his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Scott served as the elected district attorney of Shasta County from 1997 to 2003 and as deputy district attorney in Contra Costa County from 1989 to 1997.[5] As district attorney for Shasta County, Scott oversaw the prosecution of brothers Benjamin Matthew Williams and James Tyler Williams, who killed a gay couple and set fire to three synagogues and an abortion clinic.[6]

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe

In a trade secrets misappropriation case, Scott won a $52.9 million jury verdict against Patriot Rail Company on behalf of his client, Sierra Railroad. He worked pro bono for Jaycee Lee Dugard, who was kidnapped in 1991 and rescued from her captor in 2009.[7]

U.S. Attorney

In his current stint as U.S. Attorney, Scott is expected to play an important enforcement role in California's emerging legal cannabis market. During his previous tenure, Scott's office prosecuted a number of mortgage fraud cases during the financial crisis of 2008, won a $102 million settlement with Union Pacific Railroad over allegations that railroad workers sparked a large wildfire, and prosecuted Hamid and Umer Hayat for allegedly providing material support for terrorism and lying about it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.[7] At the time of the $102 million settlement with Union Pacific Railroad, it was the largest civil settlement in the district's history. He subsequently encouraged the United States Department of Justice to create a program to pursue damages against companies that start fires that damage federal forests. Scott also served on an advisory committee that offered counsel to United States Attorneys General John Ashcroft and Alberto Gonzales.[6]

The editorial board of The Sacramento Bee endorsed Scott's most recent nomination to become U.S. Attorney, writing "Trump could not have found a more qualified chief federal prosecutor for the sprawling district."[8]

References
  1. "PN381 - Nomination of McGregor William Scott for Department of Justice, 108th Congress (2003-2004) | Congress.gov | Library of Congress". Congress.gov. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
  2. "PN883 - Nomination of Benjamin B. Wagner for Department of Justice, 111th Congress (2009-2010) | Congress.gov | Library of Congress". Congress.gov. 2009-10-22. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
  3. https://www.co.shasta.ca.us/docs/libraries/district-attorney-docs/docs/DA_History.pdf?sfvrsn=f989dfe6_6
  4. "PN1211 — McGregor W. Scott — Department of Justice". Congress.gov. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  5. Wire, Sarah D. (November 1, 2017). "Trump nominates U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of California". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  6. Stanton, Sam (November 1, 2017). "Trump nominates Scott to return as U.S. attorney for state's Eastern District". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  7. Miller, Cheryl (November 1, 2017). "Orrick Partner McGregor Scott Gets Second Nod for US Attorney Post". The Recorder. Law.com. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  8. "In bringing McGregor Scott back as U.S. attorney in California, Trump did something right". Sacramento Bee. November 13, 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
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